West Caldwell school placed on lockdown; no weapons found

WEST CALDWELL — Police say no weapons have been found at a northern New Jersey school that was placed on lockdown Wednesday following reports that a student had brought a gun into the building.

West Caldwell Police Chief Michael Bramhall tells The Star-Ledger that officers from his department and the Essex County sheriff's office responded to the Essex Valley School in West Caldwell around 1 p.m. Wednesday after a staff member received information that a weapon had been brought onto school grounds.

Bramhall says the lockdown procedure is precautionary, but no one is being allowed to leave school grounds until a room-by-room search is completed.

A website for the Essex Valley School describes it as a "therapeutic alternative" program which takes in students that have struggled in traditional schools.